Sports Betting
Bet options – Spread, Money Line, Over/Under, Parlay
Point Spread/Line
This is one way to bet on a team, either the favorite (the team expected to win) or the underdog (the team expected to lose). To make the game “equal” the odds maker/bookie creates a point spread (line) which provides the underdog team an advantage, or the favorites a disadvantage. A favorite team “gives” points, while an underdog team “gets” points. In the event the odds maker believes that both teams are equal, then the line is a pick/pk/pickem.
An example of this will be Celtics are favored to win by 7 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which would show as -7. If you were to bet this spread, the Celtics would need to win by 8 or more points for you to win the bet or “cover”. If they win by exactly 7 then this is called a “push” which means you do not lose or win, and get back your original bet. If the Celtics win by 6 or less, or lose the game, then you lose your bet.
If you were to bet the Minnesota Timberwolves who on the other hand is the underdog, and is getting points, this would show as +7. To win the bet the Timberwolves would need to not lose the game by more than 6 points or just win the game.
In the event the bet is a pick/pk/pickem, then which ever team you choose must win the game for your bet to win. They do not need to win by any margin, just win.
(You will see a lot of lines that has end in .5, for example – Celtics -7.5. This is usually to prevent pushes, as there must be a winner or a loser.)
Money Line
Another way to bet on a team, where you are betting for either team to with no point spread. Since there is usually favorite or an underdog, the odds maker will have to even this bet by adjusting the “odds”. Favorites will have the (minus -) sign while underdogs will have the (plus +) sign next to the odds provided.
For example, if the Patriots are favorites against the Bengals, the bet would show as Patriots -300, which means if you were to bet them, to win $100 you would have to bet $300. Or if you bet $100 you would win $30. If you bet the Bengals however and the odds were set at +300, if you were to bet $100 you would win $300, or if you were to bet $20 you would win $60. These odds are on a sliding scale depending on how the line moves. The higher the line will result in worst odds in betting the favorites, and better odds in betting the underdogs.
Over/Under Totals
Another option of betting without having to bet on a specific team. If you choose this bet, you are betting on whether the total score of the game will be either more or less than the provided total the odds maker has set.
For example, if the Celtics and Lakers are playing and the over/under is set at 220 points, and you bet the over, you win this bet if the Celtics and Lakers score a combined point total of over 221. This includes any overtime. If the two team scores 219 or under then you lose your bet. However, if the combined scores land on exactly 220 then the bet is a push.
-110
Under all spreads/line and over/under totals you will see “odds”, usually it will be -110. This is the commission sports books take on every wager.
Just like the money line, if you were to bet a spread where Celtics are -7 with odds that are -110, that means to win $100 you would have to bet $110. If you were to bet $50 you would win $45.45. If the odds showed +120 then if you bet $100 you would win $120. Or if you bet $50 with those odds you would win $60.
Parlay
A single wager where you bet two or more winning outcomes. The allure of these bets are for larger payouts as both your bets must win for the parlay to hit. For example if. you do a two team parlay - Spurs -8 against the Celtics, and Lakers -12 against The Magic. In order to win your parlay, you must win both bets, a loss of just one bet even if you had a 10 team parlay is a loser. Any push will result in the odds being lower. For example a 6 team parlay will payout as a 5 team parlay. All parlay odds are given at the bet slip.